One of the essences of travel is to capture beautiful images and sights with varied devices like smartphones, DSLR cameras, action cameras etc. Some do it to preserve their memories and some for professional reasons like YouTube and other platforms. Along with taking still images, recording videos have also become an integral part of the whole process. If one is doing it for professional reasons, recording good audio becomes extremely important. Even if you are recording for personal consumption, who would not want a good audio experience to back up your video?
We have been using the Boya BY-M1 microphone for quite a while, here is our honest user experience.
What we like about it:
- Crystal clear audio: We have harped upon the need for good audio and this product certainly delivers on that front. We have mainly used this with our smartphones and PCs and the output has certainly amazed us. We have used different microphones before this, like the earphones that come with smartphones and some music-oriented microphones, all we can say is that this product towers over all of them. We are not saying that this is the best one available in the market, yes you will have more expensive and established brands but this one will not disappoint you one bit.
- Cost: In the previous point we mentioned the more expensive alternatives, however the one thing that makes us recommend this product is the cost. At Rs.634 (as per the latest price from Amazon India), this is a no-brainer. We have done our bit researching various products and there is none better available in the market right now.
- Cable length: The cable available is around 6 meters or roughly 20 ft in length which makes it extremely convenient if you are shooting with a partner. You can comfortably stand far from the recording device and this will not be a hindrance.
- Compatibility: This product can be used with a variety of devices like smartphones, DSLRs, camcorders, PCs, Audio Recorders etc. You get a small button cell to use with powered devices like DSLR. You just need to flip a switch to toggle between powered and non-powered ones.
- Extras: There are a few nice freebies thrown in there which makes us like this even more. There is a small pouch of decent quality which can be used to carry this mic while travelling. As mentioned in the previous point, you also get a button cell to use with devices which require power. You get a velcro to manage the cables. Also, you get a ¼-inch audio adapter for use with devices which require this kind of input. There is a clip also as a part of the package to attach it to your clothing.
What we don’t like about it:
- Omni Directional Mic: You should be aware that this is an Omni-directional microphone, which means that it will pick up audio 360 degrees. So, if you are in a noisy environment then you will have a hard time recording. If your video is just about recording your voice (like a voiceover or a tutorial) and doesn’t intend to have any other noise, then you should be mindful of what you are getting into.
- Cable Length: Yes, we mentioned this as an advantage but sometimes can be a con as well. The 20 ft cable length is really hard to manage and can get easily tangled so one will have a hard time managing it. The velcro strap provides some relief however, once the cable is fully open then it becomes hard to keep it in check. We suggest you open only the length that is required and not get excited to open all of it at once.
- No Battery Level Indicator: If you are using this mic with a powered device and require the battery to be used then you will have no way to find out the level of the battery as there is no indicator for the same. You may have to carry a spare battery in case the main one runs out.
Final Verdict
There is no way to find faults with this product given the price at which it is available. The cons listed above are just nitpicking and the mic does what it is intended to do. If you can live with the omnidirectional characteristic of this mic then you will not go wrong with the purchase.
Highly recommended from our side for folks who are just getting started and don’t want to spend a bomb getting a microphone.
Overall Rating: 4/5
